Whitwick Royal British Legion's chairman said he was 'overwhelmed' by the turnout for Sunday's D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration in Coalville.

The event was staged in Memorial Square, in the shadow of the Clock Tower, and featured the stories of Fred Bonser (Royal Navy Commando), Jack Smith (Royal Marines), Leonard Tudge (Army), Frank Hares (Royal Air Force), which were read out to a large crowd.

HM Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Michael Kapur OBE also attended an emotional and poignant ceremony.

Phil Beet, chairman of Whitwick RBL, said he was impressed by the amount of people who came to pay their respects - and emphasised the important of continuing to hold such events so the reasons are never forgotten.

He also noted that the Coalville area still has one survivor of the D-Day landings - Thringstone-based Paul Crook Rumsey Who is aged 98, but was unable to attend the service.

Phil told Coalville Nub News: "I was seriously overwhelmed, we expected maybe 50-100 people to come along, but it was far more than that, I don't know how many were here.

"The support that was shown was so emotional. Just wow. It's not something we'll see again and commemorating this is hugely important. 

"We're coming to the end of the generations who gave us this, recognising what they did.

"If we do not mark these events, whether it's D-Day, VE Day VJ day, there is a danger we'll forget. If that happens, it's all too easy to repeat previous mistakes. I don't want ever to see something like what happened in the 1940s ever again. 

"Yes, we have conflict. Yes, we have wars. But not on the same scale. We continue to lose our young men week in week out. We've got to try and stop that by bringing this into clear, sharp focus for people to say, what is this about?"

Phil made an appeal earlier this year for relatives of those involved in D-Day from the Coalville area to come forwards. The response meant that their stories could be told on Sunday.

Phil said: "We got five local guys and I can't get my head around what they went through. 

"I joined up at the age of 17, but I knew what I was getting into. And I'm sorry to say it, but I can't see a 16-17 year old today doing the same thing. I'm hoping that they won't have to because they're not prepared for this and not prepared. 

The chairman of Whitwick Royal British Legion, Phil Beet.

"These guys we spoke about on Sunday were so patriotic, wanting to defend their country in World War Two. 

"Their friends were joining up, they wanted to be with them. We have to honour them."

HM Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Michael Kapur OBE also attended

Phil told more about Paul Crook Rumsey.

He added: "He is such an amazing man. He's a hero, he really is. This week has taken a toll on him. 

"He's 98 years old but he lied about his age to join up. We've got several different dates of birth for him.

"But he's such a lovely, lovely man. Self-effacing and unassuming. 

"He was parachuted behind the lines on the day. All those guys and Paul were one of the first on the ground that day.

"As they were landed on the beaches, he was already there on the ground.

"He was at our D-Day party, enjoying himself and chatting up my 91-year-old mother-in-law!"